Finland lacks halfpipes of international standards. According to Jon Sallinen, it depends on several different things, he says in Sportliv’s mini-documentary about Finland’s new freestyle star.
First of all, there are few athletes in Finland who want or are able to ride in a so-called superpipe with seven meter high sides.
Second, it is expensive and difficult to build a good halfpipe. In the World Cup, where most of the competitions are in the USA, all halfpipes are built by the same specialist. The piste machine requires special equipment which is not cheap.
Thirdly, according to Sallinen, it is both more difficult and more dangerous to ride halfpipe than slopestyle or big air.
After high school, the 22-year-old has continued to spend a lot of time in the United States due to the better training conditions.
He also previously had an American coach, who was replaced a year ago by New Zealander Peter Legnavsky. After that, the results have reached a whole new level.
– In previous seasons, I have tried to try new tricks and catch up with everyone who is better than me. In the last season, everything felt easier, Sallinen tells Sportliv’s team before the filming moves from the ski slope in Hyvinci to the skate park in Helsinki.
– I realized that I can ride as well as the other top names.
Many describe Sallinen as a natural talent. He himself thanks his genes for making it so easy for him to learn new branches and tricks.
His cousins Teemu and Jere Sallinen are famous ice hockey players – Jere, among other things, is a two-time world champion.
His mother Lotti Kajander-Sallinen in turn won FM gold in handball and played in the national team.
